Protected Characteristics

The Equality Act 2010 replaced previous anti-discrimination laws
with a single act to make the law simpler and to remove
inconsistencies. This makes the law easier for people to understand
and comply with. The act also strengthened protection in some
situations.

The act covers nine protected characteristics, which cannot
be used as a reason to treat people unfairly. Every person has
one or more of the protected characteristics, so the act
protects everyone against unfair treatment.

The process of transitioning from one gender to another. A
person has the protected characteristics of gender reassignment if
the person is proposing to undergo, is undergoing or has undergone
a process (or part of a process) for the purpose of reassigning the
person’s sex by changing physiological or other attributes of
sex.

A reference to a transsexual person is also a reference to a
person who has the protected characteristics of gender
reassignment.

Marriage was previously defined as a 'union between a man and a
woman'. However, since the introduction of the Marriage (Same
Sex Couples) Act 2013, same-sex couples can now get married in
England and Wales and these are legally recognised as being the
same as marriages between a man and woman.

Same-sex couples may alternatively have their
relationships legally recognised as 'civil partnerships'.
Civil partners have the same rights as married couples.

Pregnancy is the condition of being pregnant or expecting a
baby. Maternity refers to the period after the birth, and is linked
to maternity leave in the employment context. In the non-work
context, protection against maternity discrimination is for 26
weeks after giving birth, and this includes treating a woman
unfavourably because she is breastfeeding.

Religion has the meaning usually given to it but belief includes
religious and philosophical beliefs including lack of belief (e.g.
Atheism). Generally, a belief should affect your life choices or
the way you live for it to be included in the definition.